New Pet Parents At This Company Are Taking ‘Fur-ternity’ Leave — Is It Coming To Your Workplace Next?

Matthew Russell

By Matthew Russell

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Newborn babies need all the love and attention they can get, and many employers are happy to oblige. But maternity leave is nothing new. Even paternity leave is becoming a standard benefit for new fathers in the workplace.

It’s not just parents of human children that need the time off, these days. Pet parents need to care for their fur babies, too.

And now, those at Nina Hale can go on “fur-ternity leave.”

Source: YouTube/KARE 11When Connor McCarthy brought home a new dog, he needed time to help him get adjusted.

According to the New York Times, the Minneapolis marketing firm is enhancing its staff benefit package, with a larger stipend for commuting costs, a new insurance package, and a week of working from home whenever a new cat or dog is welcomed into the family.

“This is kind of a no-brainer,” said Allison McMenimen, a vice president at the company, Nina Hale, and one of the creators of the new policy. “The idea of offering benefits that just help keep employees at the office, that’s over.”

Source: YouTube/KARE 11Nina Hart, a marketing firm in Minneapolis, offers “Fur-ternity” leave to staff members who have welcomed a new pet into their lives.

The new policy stems from a request by senior accounts manager Connor McCarthy, who asked to work from home while his new Goldendoodle puppy adjusted to his surroundings.

Make no mistake, employees are still expected to put in a full day’s work while they’re welcoming new furry friends into the family. They just don’t have to be in the office.

“We realized that we had received these requests a couple of times, and we thought, for so many of our hardworking, dedicated employees, there’s an opportunity for us to reciprocate their dedication and give them additional flexibility when they’re making a major life change,” McMenimen told the Associated Press. “And in this case, instead of a human baby, it’s a fur baby.”

Source: YouTube/KARE 11Fur-ternity leave was a big help for McCarthy and Bentley.

Whether or not fur-ternity leave will catch on in other businesses is yet to be seen, but with coverage in a slew of local stations, the New York Time, Fortune, and the AP, it’s certainly gaining some steam.

“I think it was great,” McCarthy said. “Within a couple of weeks, he was potty-trained. I was able to help out with that.”

Kentucky Worst State For Animals: Click “Next” below!

Matthew Russell is a West Michigan native and with a background in journalism, data analysis, cartography and design thinking. He likes to learn new things and solve old problems whenever possible, and enjoys bicycling, going to the dog park, spending time with his daughter, and coffee.

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